Lt1 to Lt4 conversion help
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 93
Likes: 4
From: Monticello, AR
Lt1 to Lt4 conversion help
I have a lt1 and want to add a lt4 supercharger to my car. I have a guy with a lt4 supercharger and blower want to add it to my car, what all parts would I need for installation besides the supercharger. I’ve seen lots of people do this on the forum and i just want a list of parts I need to figure out how much it would cost.
Last edited by Hunter Goad; Oct 19, 2020 at 02:57 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 4,754
Likes: 1,650
Adding a supercharger to a LT1 is not making it a LT4. Doing this is just building a LT1 engine with a supercharger that will live very long. There are many differences between the LT1 and LT4 engines. LT4 is a different design internally (combustion chamber is designed differently) and is much more stout than the LT1. Internals are different. Fuel pump is different. The list goes on an on.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,560
Likes: 485
From: Moberly, Mo
Much depends on the goals of the owner. They are different, the Lt1 has a higher compression ratio with cast pistons, the Lt4 has forged pistons, both have forged rods and crank. Here are the differences.
https://www.onallcylinders.com/2018/...ads-cam-specs/
https://www.onallcylinders.com/2018/...am-specs-more/
https://www.onallcylinders.com/2018/...ads-cam-specs/
https://www.onallcylinders.com/2018/...am-specs-more/
Last edited by 99vetteran; Oct 20, 2020 at 02:15 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 4,754
Likes: 1,650
Much depends on the goals of the owner. They are different, the Lt1 has a higher compression ratio with cast pistons, the Lt4 has forged pistons, both have forged rods and crank. Here are the differences.
https://www.onallcylinders.com/2018/...ads-cam-specs/
https://www.onallcylinders.com/2018/...am-specs-more/
https://www.onallcylinders.com/2018/...ads-cam-specs/
https://www.onallcylinders.com/2018/...am-specs-more/
Last edited by MMD; Oct 20, 2020 at 02:49 PM.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 93
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From: Monticello, AR
I don’t want to make my lt1 a lt4, I want to add a lt4 supercharger to my car because they’re pretty cheap, people on the forum take them off of their z06s all the time to upgrade and I was trying to see what parts I need to buy to make a lt4 supercharger work on my car.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 4,754
Likes: 1,650
I don’t want to make my lt1 a lt4, I want to add a lt4 supercharger to my car because they’re pretty cheap, people on the forum take them off of their z06s all the time to upgrade and I was trying to see what parts I need to buy to make a lt4 supercharger work on my car.
Last edited by MMD; Oct 20, 2020 at 03:09 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 8,672
Likes: 2,726
From: Atlanta GA
People do the conversion all the time , just don't go crazy on the tune and boost and you will be fine , fastest way to add 125 HP
Cesar at TPS motorsports will sell you everything you need less the blower , the can even include a safe tune done PAT G ... http://www.tpsmotorsports.com/corvet...-corvette.html
Dace
Cesar at TPS motorsports will sell you everything you need less the blower , the can even include a safe tune done PAT G ... http://www.tpsmotorsports.com/corvet...-corvette.html
Dace
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 7,049
Likes: 944
From: DFW TX
To the OP there are a lot of shops that can sell you the remaining hardware you will need. Just shop around. Weapon X, TPS, couple others sell this as a "kit" so to speak because it is pretty common. It is a nice way to add some power that is a little cheaper than just doing a new centri.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 12,224
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From: SE WI
I read to keep it 600HP or less on stock pistons. I thought I read that the crank bearings can go too. Lots of people ad a blower to the LT1. Just dont go crazy with power as mentioned. Your thread title does say LT1 to LT4 conversion so that is a little different than what you later said you wanted to do (add an LT4 blower).
Last edited by Zjoe6; Oct 21, 2020 at 11:07 AM.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 93
Likes: 4
From: Monticello, AR
I read to keep it 600HP or less on stock pistons. I thought I read that the crank bearings can go too. Lots of people ad a blower to the LT1. Just dont go crazy with power as mentioned. Your thread title does say LT1 to LT4 conversion so that is a little different than what you later said you wanted to do (add an LT4 blower).
Pro
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 652
Likes: 156
From: Clarksville, TN
I've had mine on for over a year now with zero issues and I would defiantly recommend the lt4 injectors/hpfp. With a 15% od pulley it was dyno'd at 630hp/672tq everything else was stock at that time. I have since done other mods so I'm not sure about current power level.
Here are some suggestions, considerations and observations if you're set on an lt4 blower.
Skip the oem Heat exchanger and get an aftermarket heat exchanger such as dewitts or cordes. I had about a 20degf improvement with cordes in over all temp and temp recovery time.
I would probably stay with stock pulley sizes or see what your tuner suggest. 15% over drive was around 9.5psi on my car which my tuner wasn't exactly thrilled with it being that high.
Consider methanol injection but understand the potential risk if your tune is meth dependent. (pump failing or running out of methanol during a pull)
Depending on how maxed your injectors are you may not be able to use e85.
After installing a high flow drop in filter, headers and remote retune I logged 1psi more of boost and even lower IAT2.
Get a good tuner
Get a good tuner
Get a good tuner
^Cant stress that enough!
Here are some suggestions, considerations and observations if you're set on an lt4 blower.
Skip the oem Heat exchanger and get an aftermarket heat exchanger such as dewitts or cordes. I had about a 20degf improvement with cordes in over all temp and temp recovery time.
I would probably stay with stock pulley sizes or see what your tuner suggest. 15% over drive was around 9.5psi on my car which my tuner wasn't exactly thrilled with it being that high.
Consider methanol injection but understand the potential risk if your tune is meth dependent. (pump failing or running out of methanol during a pull)
Depending on how maxed your injectors are you may not be able to use e85.
After installing a high flow drop in filter, headers and remote retune I logged 1psi more of boost and even lower IAT2.
Get a good tuner
Get a good tuner
Get a good tuner
^Cant stress that enough!
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2024
Posts: 75
Likes: 15
Lt4 Supercharger
I have a lt1 and want to add a lt4 supercharger to my car. I have a guy with a lt4 supercharger and blower want to add it to my car, what all parts would I need for installation besides the supercharger. I’ve seen lots of people do this on the forum and i just want a list of parts I need to figure out how much it would cost.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 8,672
Likes: 2,726
From: Atlanta GA
I have an LT1 with a Lt4 supercharger. It had an upgrade the cooling system, extra cooling tank for cooling the supercharger, Lt4 fuel pump, and injectors. The car was purchased as a Grand Sport with the lt4 supercharger already installed, which I got for $15,000 under value. I didn't realize it wasn't only the front main seal leaking but the oil rings around the pistons. Lt4 engines have a forged internals. I had to have the engine completely tore down, cylinders honed, and forged internals put in with a cam then tune. For the price you're so much better getting a Z06 now. I seen one today which was a 2016 3 LZ with under 15,000 miles on it for $66,000. The piston rings popped off in pieces and the supercharger was only on the car for 10,000 miles. FML
If you keep the HP at 600 the LT1 is plenty strong and with a good tune will live a long life. There are plenty of guys including myself that have blowers , my car is so reliable I would drive it on a cross country trip in a heartbeat and believe me when I say I don't baby my car .....
Dave